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Author
Topic: Shingles Newbie (Read 6535 times)

First, I noticed this horrible looking thing on my leg. I thought I must have just banged it into something. Itched like crazy. Later on the same thing appeared on my arm. Again with the itching. Since I tend to avoid the doctors as much as possible (YES this is extremely stupid ... never claimed to be bright) I just put some antibiotic cream on it and was on my way. Next, the same thing appeared on my posterior -- right cheek to be precise! Except this thing was painful and there are a cluster of them. Standing isn't bad ... but sitting down ... or bending over to pick something up and OUCH!!!

So, after several days of pain I finally break down and see the doc. He takes one look at my bottom and says "Oh, that's a classic case of shingles". Then he asked if I had been under any stress lately! Well, my partner did just have his 3rd open-heart surgery about two weeks ago! So, stress induced shingles it is! He also explained that I waited too long to be put on some anti retroviralsfor it (first 48hrs is when they do that ... or so he told me) so I just walked away with some Vicodin for the pain.

When I see the pharmacist he asks about the Shingles vaccine and I explained the doc said no for HIV+ even with good numbers because it was a LIVE virus. So, now I'm curious -- was the doc spot on or was he being too cautious??

AA

« Last Edit: August 12, 2009, 08:58:15 PM by AndyArrow »

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It is not the arrival that matters. It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne

Standing isn't bad ... but sitting down ... or bending over to pick something up and OUCH!!!

AA

Ouch Andy !!

Believe me, I know the pain of shingles. Each time I had shingles, I dabbed ( very gently using a fresh cottonball), calomine lotion on the blisters, to help get them to dry up, and not itch so bad. Wear very loose fitting clothing ( or nothing at all where possible) so theere's no further irritation around any of the blisters. You need to just take it easy for a while.

Everytime I hear of someone getting shingles I squirm a little, because when I had them the pain was pretty much unbearable, for at least 3 days. Hopefully you will get through these quickly.

As for your question, my understanding is that live virus vaccines are a no-no for people with HIV and other auto-immune problems like lupus or anti-rejection meds after an organ transplant. Fortunately, most vaccines are not live virus and are reasonably safe. Always check, though.

Shingles... ouch. I erupted in shingles on the left side of my face right after getting my HIV diagnosis. My doctor thought it was an inner ear infection at first and started me on antibiotics; it was not until after two weeks of excruciating pain and the appearance of blisters in the mouth and on the skin that made him realize what what happening. Five days of antivirals and everything dried up and everything went away. Except the neuralgia: it was three months before the fierce itching went away.

On the upside, I have been told that shingles normally can happen only once. Congradulations: you can now handle even greater stress without having to worry about this.

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Some days, it just comes down to whether you will laugh or cry. When possible, I chose to laugh.

Sorry to hear about this. I had a case of it when I first was diagnosed being HIV+ many years ago. I didn't know what was wrong and I remember having all this pain and then I broke out really bad, but I got on anti-virals as soon as it happened and had to take them for about 2 weeks or so - I think the treatment has changed since then - newer meds on the market, but I remember what it was like. I hope the pain pills help you. I imagine that is correct about a "live" vacinne versus a "killed" one. Try not to stress about it. Take care. RV

I'm having the same thing.... 2 weeks ago i have some red spots on the elbow and then last week on my arms and legs and is itching and looks some like skin flakes or so, so i dunno what to do...i hate to go to the doctor right now because i don't have insurance ( still on paperwork proses for insurance by the state )....so i just decide to maintain clean and apply A+D cream for the rashes.BTW whats the difference between shingles and rashes ? or is that the same?

So sorry to hear about the Shingles and all you can do at this point, is to wait them out. I wish I had better news, but I've had Shingles 3 times. So much for that you can't get them more than once rumor. Vicodin and Nytol were my friends for almost two weeks.

I sort of knew in the back of my mind that a live vaccine was a no-no but I didn't want it to be true.

Holding off on taking the vicodin during the day and just using it to sleep through the pain. It's a bitch to sleep because I have to lay on my back elevated because of my esophagus but as soon as my butt hits the bed I want to turn on my side.

How some of you managed through 3 times I don't know ... Ugh!!!

alejandro -- the centers of mine turned dark and crusty and they are vary painful ... unlike a normal rash that usually just itches and is bright red/pink. Shingles are a rash caused by the virus that causes chickenpox.

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It is not the arrival that matters. It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne

On the upside, I have been told that shingles normally can happen only once. Congradulations: you can now handle even greater stress without having to worry about this.

Not true. What is true is that you can only get shingles when you've first had chicken pox, and you can only get chicken pox once. You can get shingles any number of times.

As someone who is only recently diagnosed, you should not be posting in the LTS forum. Just letting you know.

alejandroglz, same thing goes for you. As a newly diagnosed person you shouldn't be posting in this particular forum. Please go to the I Just Tested Poz forum to ask your questions about rash/shingles.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

The shingles vaccine is not indicated for HIV or other immune suppressive conditions.

Make friends with Acyclovir. You'll probably need to stay on it. It helps future events by making them milder and often you won't have future events. Some people get immediate relief.

Otherwise, baking soda or calamine are about your only options.

I understand your stress. My partner had quintuple 2 years ago. It ain't so much the surgery that's stressful, it's that when they get home they become a raving bitch. LoL. But, who wouldn't? Still, it's very tough on the partner.

Not true. What is true is that you can only get shingles when you've first had chicken pox, and you can only get chicken pox once. You can get shingles any number of times.

It was my GP who told me this. I know that shingles is where the chicken pox virus (or, rarely, the herpes virus) has gone into hiding in nerve tissue and latter, for reasons still unclear, "wake up," start reproducing wildly and begin migrating to the skin. Maybe a given group of nerve tissue can erupt in shingles only once, and shingles in one place does not eliminate the chance of an outbreak elsewhere?

In any case, thanks for the correction. So much for my comfortable delusions.

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Some days, it just comes down to whether you will laugh or cry. When possible, I chose to laugh.

It was my GP who told me this. I know that shingles is where the chicken pox virus (or, rarely, the herpes virus) has gone into hiding in nerve tissue and latter, for reasons still unclear, "wake up," start reproducing wildly and begin migrating to the skin. Maybe a given group of nerve tissue can erupt in shingles only once, and shingles in one place does not eliminate the chance of an outbreak elsewhere?

In any case, thanks for the correction. So much for my comfortable delusions.

I understand your stress. My partner had quintuple 2 years ago. It ain't so much the surgery that's stressful, it's that when they get home they become a raving bitch. LoL. But, who wouldn't? Still, it's very tough on the partner.

LOL!!! Actually, he's being real good ... it helps that we've been through a very similar experience back in '91 when he had a aortic valve replaced. I think the real stress was caused from when he was still in the hospital and his mother and one of his sisters was staying with me. Gotta love the in-laws!

The shingles seem about the same as yesterday but I had another good nights sleep thanks to Vicodin

« Last Edit: August 15, 2009, 12:52:51 PM by AndyArrow »

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It is not the arrival that matters. It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne

I hope you are getting plenty of rest, it is amazing how much shingles zap your energy. I experienced it each time after an extended period of stress and I wasn't listening to my body to slow down and take care of myself. I was given acyclovir the last time, but it was a little too late. I don't know about taking it as a prophylactic dose, as someone suggested. You can always talk to your doc about it.

Hey Andy I do feel far you had them six times so far and every Doctor says the same no vacine for you.Wish I could tell more but do know some creams will make the things worse.I know everyone is different but in the matter of shingles don,t wait.Now if your lucky pain will go away with soars if not so lucky you will feel some discomfort way long after.Dwayne

I sort of knew in the back of my mind that a live vaccine was a no-no but I didn't want it to be true.

Holding off on taking the vicodin during the day and just using it to sleep through the pain. It's a bitch to sleep because I have to lay on my back elevated because of my esophagus but as soon as my butt hits the bed I want to turn on my side.

How some of you managed through 3 times I don't know ... Ugh!!!

alejandro -- the centers of mine turned dark and crusty and they are vary painful ... unlike a normal rash that usually just itches and is bright red/pink. Shingles are a rash caused by the virus that causes chickenpox.

I lost count of all the times I had bouts of shingles....thirty someting times ?I always keep a spare supply of Valaciclovir at hand. Just the other day I started getting that funny feeling on my right side. The next two days I took the full dosage, today and tomorrow I will take half, and hopefully it's back into hiding for a long while.Was way ahead this time, no rashes or blisters, just that annoying neuralgia, but that's gone now.

They were on the right side of my face and I was not a happy camper. Luckily, the doctor put me on Valcyclovir right away and it seemed to nip it in the bud. Only a minor outbreak on my lips, the neuralgia on the side of the face, but they both passed pretty quickly.

Who stated shingles normally only happen once? I'm sorry with our wonderful compromised immune system... shingles can happen as many times as it wants... I've had shingles 3 times... the first time is when my Dad died... 2nd time when my grandmother passed and the 3rd time when my Mom died... anytime your really stressed out the wonderful chicken pox virus returns... its a retro virus... it returns as what we refer to as shingles because it hides in the nerve endings...

Andy, please talk to your doctor about suppressive therapy once this episode passes. I have had them twice, so trust me they can recur. I take acyclovir twice daily in the hopes of suppressing a recurrance (or at least minimizing the effect of it.) This is fairly normal for HIV+ folks who have had shingles. Hopefully, now that the sores are crusting over the worst of this episode will be over.

The best solution - both during a shingles outbreak and as a preventative - is L-Lysine. You can get it at any health products store. The last time I got shingles - and it was the very last - was in early 2004. My former step-mother, a nurse-midwife, recommended it. When I went to the store and hesitantly asked for L-Lysine, he asked "to treat shingles?"

The pain stopped overnight and the rash cleared up the next day.

After that, if I felt that "premonition" tingling, I took one or two pills. The tingle went away and the outbreak never occurred.

Sorry to hear about your shingles. I had AIDS related shingles in 1987. Leasions started at my navel and continued around my left side to the middle of my back. Severe pain for about 10 days. Pain continued for months after. The doctor I saw at the time (hadn't tested for HIV yet) said there was nothing to be done. Take aspirin! Things are much better now. Stress related shingles are a bit different, I understand.

Acyclovir helps. I started taking it in 1988 after testing positive, to prevent a recurrence. Still on it. So far no more shingles!

And a note to Gib----I was not a bitch after bypass surgery, just very uncomfortable! Still can't watch Grey's Anatomy, thank you.

30+ times Grasshoper ... you deserve some kind of medal or something. Best I can offer is a great big cyber hug though!

It's very interesting that many of you are on preventive therapy and the doc never mentioned anything at all about doing that. I'm currently in the thought process stage of ditching this ID group only a few miles from my home and going into the city (Chicago) 45mins away so not horrible to find better care.

Buzz -- welcome to the forums. I'm sure you were a wonderful patient. Mine just had an ALMOST mini crisis. One of his incisions on his leg was oozing blood & on closer inspection I noticed several of the staples were no longer attached to both sides. We rushed to the doctors office (they were able to fit us in that day) and they said everything looked good and just took all the staples out a week early! Crisis over!

Hugs to AllAA

PS Shingles are pretty much pain free although they still look gross!

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It is not the arrival that matters. It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne